Liquid cooled pole wedge

ABSTRACT

A wedge for use between poles of a generator for supporting windings of the poles includes a plurality of outer walls. The wedge also includes at least one fluid orifice extending through at least one of the plurality of outer walls and configured to receive a fluid from a shaft of the generator and to allow the fluid to flow through the at least one of the plurality of outer walls to reduce a temperature of the windings.

FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to electric generators and, moreparticularly, to systems and methods for cooling electric generators.

BACKGROUND

Generators may include poles, that rotate about an axis, and statorsradially outward from the poles. Windings may be wrapped around thepoles. During rotation of the poles relative to the stators, an electricfield may be generated between the magnetic stators and the windingsthat creates a current. The current may be used to power electricaldevices.

Based on the rotational speed of the poles, the windings experience acentrifugal force that forces the windings away from the poles. In thatregard, a wedge may be placed between pairs of poles to reduce movementof the windings during such rotation and to relieve the load applied tothe windings. However, this load relief may, when combined withpotentially increased temperatures, undesirably create stress in thewindings.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a wedge for use between poles of a generator forsupporting windings of the poles. The wedge includes a plurality ofouter walls. The wedge also includes at least one fluid orificeextending through at least one of the plurality of outer walls andconfigured to receive a fluid from a shaft of the generator and to allowthe fluid to flow through the at least one of the plurality of outerwalls to reduce a temperature of the windings.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wedge further includes a wedgechannel configured to receive the fluid and to allow the fluid to flowto the at least one fluid orifice.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one fluid orificeincludes a plurality of fluid orifices, and the wedge channel isconfigured to allow the fluid to flow to each of the plurality of fluidorifices.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of outer wallsincludes two radially inward walls that join at a junction proximal tothe shaft, and wherein the wedge channel is configured to receive thefluid from a core of the generator at the point.

Any of the foregoing embodiments may also include at least one supportwall, wherein the plurality of outer walls defines an internal wedgecavity and the at least one support wall is located in the internalwedge cavity and configured to provide structural support for theplurality of outer walls.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the plurality of outer wallsincludes three radially outward walls that together define a wedgeshape, and two radially inward walls that join at a junction proximal tothe shaft and are each curved.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one fluid orificeextends in a direction parallel to an axis of the generator.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wedge is additivelymanufactured.

Also disclosed is a generator. The generator includes a shaft configuredto rotate about an axis. The generator also includes a core coupled tothe shaft and including at least two poles configured to rotate aboutthe axis in response to rotation of the shaft. The generator alsoincludes a wedge configured to be positioned between two of the at leasttwo poles of the core and including a fluid orifice extending through atleast a portion of the wedge and configured to allow a fluid to flowthrough at least the portion of the wedge to reduce a temperature of thewindings.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the shaft defines a fluid channeland the core further includes or defines a transfer tube extending fromthe fluid channel of the shaft to the wedge such that the fluid flowsfrom the fluid channel, through the transfer tube, and into the fluidorifice of the wedge.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the core has an axial end and thetransfer tube is positioned on the axial end of the core.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wedge includes a plurality ofouter walls including two radially inward walls that join at a junctionproximal to the core, and wherein the transfer tube provides the fluidto the wedge at the point.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wedge further includes aplurality of fluid orifices including the fluid orifice, and the wedgefurther includes a wedge channel configured to receive the fluid and toallow the fluid to flow to at least a portion of the plurality of fluidorifices.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wedge further includes aplurality of outer walls defining an internal wedge cavity and at leastone support wall extending through a portion of the internal wedgecavity and configured to provide structural support for the plurality ofouter walls.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the wedge further includes aplurality of outer walls and the fluid orifice extends through at leastone of the plurality of outer walls.

Any of the foregoing embodiments may also include windings wound aroundeach of the at least two poles.

Also disclosed is a method of making a wedge, comprising additivelymanufacturing the wedge to have a plurality of outer walls and at leastone fluid orifice extending through at least one of the plurality ofouter walls to receive a fluid from a shaft of a generator to port thefluid through the at least one of the plurality of outer walls.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, additively manufacturing the wedgefurther includes additively manufacturing the wedge to cause the atleast one fluid orifice to be parallel to an axis of a generator withwhich the wedge is configured for use.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, additively manufacturing the wedgefurther includes additively manufacturing the wedge to have a wedgechannel configured to receive the fluid and to port the fluid to the atleast one fluid orifice.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, additively manufacturing the wedgefurther includes additively manufacturing the wedge to have an integraltransfer tube configured to port the fluid to the at least one fluidorifice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Amore complete understanding of the present disclosures, however, maybest be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claimswhen considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein likenumerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a generator, in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of thegenerator of FIG. 1, in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the generator of FIG. 1, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes referenceto the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way ofillustration and their best mode. While these exemplary embodiments aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodimentsmay be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes ofillustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recitedin any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in anyorder and are not necessarily limited to the order presented.Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, andany reference to more than one component or step may include a singularembodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected orthe like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, fulland/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any referenceto without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contactor minimal contact.

Referring to FIG. 1, a generator 100 is shown. The generator 100includes a shall 102 having an axis 118. The generator 100 may furtherinclude a core 104 coupled to the shaft 102. The core 104 may include aplurality of poles 106 including a first pole 108 and a second pole 110.

One or more winding 112 may be wrapped around each of the plurality ofpoles 106. For example, windings 112 may be wound around the first pole108. The windings 112 may include a wire or other conductor wrapped orwound around the first pole 108.

The generator 100 may further include a plurality of wedges 114including a first wedge 115. Each of the plurality of wedges 114 may belocated between two of the plurality of poles 106. For example, thefirst wedge 115 may be located or positioned between the first pole 108and the second pole 110. The plurality of wedges 114 may resist outwardmovement of the windings 112 due to rotation of the core 104. Forexample, the first wedge 115 may contact the windings 112 of the firstpole 108 and resist radially outward movement of the windings 112. Thewedges 114 may resist outward movement of the windings 112 due tofriction between the wedges 114, the windings 112, and the poles 106.

The generator 100 may further include a plurality of stators 116. Invarious embodiments, the plurality of stators 116 may be magnetized.

In operation, the shaft 102 may rotate about the axis 118. For example,rotational force to drive the shaft 102 may be provided by an engine,such as a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. Because the core 104 iscoupled to the shaft 102, the core 104 may rotate along with the shaft102. The wedges 114 may also rotate along with the shaft 102 and thecore 104.

In various embodiments, a direct current (DC) signal may be providedthrough the windings 112 of the each of the poles 106. The windings onadjacent poles may alternate between negative and positive DC current.As the core 104 rotates about the axis 118, the windings 112 maygenerate a magnetic field, which may induce an alternating current (AC)signal in the stators 116, which may be used to power electronicequipment.

During operation, the wedges 114 may also develop or experience acurrent, thus increasing a temperature of the wedges 114. In variousembodiments, the wedges 114 may operate at temperatures above 400degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Furthermore, the wedges 114may experience a centrifugal force due to rotation about the axis 118.The combination of heat and centrifugal force may result in bendingstresses experienced by the wedges 114.

Turning to FIG. 2, the wedge 115 may include a plurality of outer walls200 (202, 204, 206, 208, and 210). The plurality of outer walls may alsobe referred to as perimeter walls as they may define a perimeter of thewedge 115. The plurality of outer walls 200 may include a first radiallyoutward wall 202, a second radially outward wall 204, and a thirdradially outward wall 206. The radially outward walls 202, 204, 206 mayform a shape that resembles a wedge. The outer walls 200 may furtherinclude a first radially inward wall 208 and a second radially inwardwall 210. The radially inward walls 208, 210 may be curved and extendfrom the first radially outward wall 202 and the third radially outwardwall 206 towards a junction 212 proximal to the core 104.

The plurality of outer walls 200 may define an internal wedge cavity214. In various embodiments, the wedge 115 may further include one ormore support wall 211 extending through a portion of the internal wedgecavity 214. In various embodiments, the one or more support wall 211 mayextend from one of the plurality of outer walls 200 to another of theplurality of outer walls 200. The one or more support wall 211 mayprovide structural support for the plurality of outer walls 200.

Inclusion of the one or more support wall 211 may allow the wedge 115 tobe relatively hollow. That is, the internal wedge cavity 214 may existbecause of the support provided by the one or more support wall 211.Inclusion of the internal wedge cavity 214 may provide advantages suchas reduced weight of the wedge 115, resulting in increased efficiency ofthe generator 100.

The generator 100 may be designed with various features to reduce atemperature of the wedge 115 (thus reducing a temperature of thewindings 112) to reduce the likelihood of the wedge 115 experiencingbending stress and the windings 112 experiencing undesirable stress. Inparticular, the wedge 115 may define or include a plurality of fluidorifices 216. The plurality of fluid orifices 216 may extend through aportion of the wedge 115, such as through a portion of one or more ofthe plurality of outer walls 200. In various embodiments, the pluralityof fluid orifices 216 may extend through the wedge 115 in a directionthat is parallel to the axis 118. In various embodiments, the pluralityof fluid orifices 216 may extend through an entire length of the wedge115.

The plurality of fluid orifices 216 may be located in one or more of theplurality of outer walls 200. In that regard, the plurality of fluidorifices 216 may transport a fluid (i.e., allow a fluid to flow) such asa coolant (i.e., oil) through the one or more outer wall 200. Heat fromthe outer walls 200 may be transferred away from the outer walls 200 bythe fluid, thus reducing temperatures experienced by the outer walls200.

The wedge 115 may further include a wedge channel 218. The wedge channel218 may be designed to receive the fluid from the core 104 (originatingfrom the shaft 102). In various embodiments, the wedge channel 218 mayreceive the fluid from the core 104 (originating from the shaft 102) atthe junction 212 at which the first radially inward wall 208 and thesecond radially inward wall 210 meet. The wedge channel 218 may providethe fluid to one or more of the plurality of fluid orifices 216. Invarious embodiments, the wedge channel 218 may provide the fluid to eachof the plurality of fluid orifices 216.

The shaft 102 may be at least partially hollow and may define or includea fluid channel 220. In various embodiments, the fluid may flow throughthe fluid channel 220 of the shaft 102.

The core 104 may define or include a transfer tube 222 in fluidcommunication with the fluid channel 220 and the wedge channel 218. Invarious embodiments, the transfer tube 222 may be manufactured to be acontinuous piece with the wedge 115. For example, the transfer tube 222may be coupled to the shaft 102 and receive the fluid from the shaft102. In particular, the shaft 102 may define a fluid opening 224 thataligns with, and is in fluid communication with, the transfer tube 222.In that regard, the fluid from the fluid channel 220 may flow out of thefluid channel 220 and into the transfer tube 222 via the fluid opening224. The fluid may then flow through the transfer tube 222 and into thewedge channel 218, from which it may flow through each of the pluralityof fluid orifices 216.

Pressure to force the fluid along this path may be provided by rotationof the generator 100. In particular, rotation of the shaft 102 and thecore 104 forces the fluid through the fluid channel 220 and radiallyoutward into the transfer tube 222 and through the wedge channel 218 andthe plurality of fluid orifices 216.

In various embodiments, the wedge 115 may be additively manufactured. Invarious embodiments, the wedge may be manufactured using casting andmachining, or any other known manufacturing technique.

In various embodiments, the wedge 115 may include at least one ofstainless steel, aluminum, titanium, an austenitic nickel-chromium-basedalloy, such as a composition that by weight contains between 17% and 21%chromium, between 2.8% and 3.3% molybdenum, between What 50% to 55%nickel, and between 4.75% and 5.5% niobium (available as INCONEL 718from the Special Metals Corporation Huntington, W. Va., USA), or thelike.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the core 104 may have an axial end 300. Invarious embodiments, the transfer tube 222 may be located at the axialend 300 of the core 104. In various embodiments, the transfer tube 222may be separate from the core 104 as shown. In various embodiments, thetransfer tube 222 may also or instead be defined by the core 104. Invarious embodiments, the transfer tube 222 may include one or more of asteel, a plastic, or the like.

In various embodiments, the wedge channel 218 of the wedge 115 may beseparate from the wedge 115 as shown. In various embodiments, the wedgechannel 218 may also or instead be defined by the wedge 115, such as bythe outer walls 200. In various embodiments, the wedge channel 218 mayinclude the same or different material as the wedge 115. In variousembodiments, the wedge channel 218 may include a steel, a plastic, orthe like.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits,advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause anybenefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced arenot to be construed as critical, required, or essential features orelements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordinglyto be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in whichreference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one andonly one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.”Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is usedin the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to meanthat A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present inan embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that anycombination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a singleembodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts but not necessarily to denote the same or differentmaterials.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detaileddescription herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “anexample embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described mayinclude a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but everyembodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed. After reading the description, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure inalternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the presentdisclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless ofwhether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under theprovisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recitedusing the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”,“comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover anon-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wedge for use between poles of a generator forsupporting windings of the poles, comprising: a plurality of outerwalls; and at least one fluid orifice defined by at least one of theplurality of outer walls, extending through at least one of theplurality of outer walls, and configured to receive a fluid from a shaftof the generator and to allow the fluid to flow through the at least oneof the plurality of outer walls to reduce a temperature of the windings.2. The wedge of claim 1, wherein the wedge further includes a wedgechannel configured to receive the fluid and to allow the fluid to flowto the at least one fluid orifice.
 3. The wedge of claim 2, wherein theat least one fluid orifice includes a plurality of fluid orifices, andthe wedge channel is configured to allow the fluid to flow to each ofthe plurality of fluid orifices.
 4. The wedge of claim 2, wherein theplurality of outer walls includes two radially inward walls that join ata junction proximal to the shaft, and wherein the wedge channel isconfigured to receive the fluid from a core of the generator at thepoint.
 5. The wedge of claim 1, further comprising at least one supportwall, wherein the plurality of outer walls defines an internal wedgecavity and the at least one support wall is located in the internalwedge cavity and configured to provide structural support for theplurality of outer walls.
 6. The wedge of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof outer walls includes three radially outward walls that togetherdefine a wedge shape, and two radially inward walls that join at ajunction proximal to the shaft and are each curved.
 7. The wedge ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one fluid orifice extends in a directionparallel to an axis of the generator.
 8. The wedge of claim 1, whereinthe wedge is additively manufactured.
 9. A generator, comprising: ashaft configured to rotate about an axis; a core coupled to the shaftand including at least two poles configured to rotate about the axis inresponse to rotation of the shaft; and a wedge configured to bepositioned between two of the at least two poles of the core andincluding a fluid orifice defined by the wedge, extending through atleast a portion of the wedge, and configured to allow a fluid to flowthrough at least the portion of the wedge to reduce a temperature of thewindings.
 10. The generator of claim 9, wherein the shaft defines afluid channel and the core further includes or defines a transfer tubeextending from the fluid channel of the shaft to the wedge such that thefluid flows from the fluid channel, through the transfer tube, and intothe fluid orifice of the wedge.
 11. The generator of claim 10, whereinthe core has an axial end and the transfer tube is positioned on theaxial end of the core.
 12. The generator of claim 10, wherein the wedgeincludes a plurality of outer walls including two radially inward wallsthat join at a junction proximal to the core, and wherein the transfertube provides the fluid to the wedge at the point.
 13. The generator ofclaim 9, wherein the wedge further includes a plurality of fluidorifices including the fluid orifice, and the wedge further includes awedge channel configured to receive the fluid and to allow the fluid toflow to at least a portion of the plurality of fluid orifices.
 14. Thegenerator of claim 9, wherein the wedge further includes a plurality ofouter walls defining an internal wedge cavity and at least one supportwall extending through a portion of the internal wedge cavity andconfigured to provide structural support for the plurality of outerwalls.
 15. The generator of claim 9, wherein the wedge further includesa plurality of outer walls and the fluid orifice extends through atleast one of the plurality of outer walls.
 16. The generator of claim 9,further comprising windings wound around each of the at least two poles.